National

‘No Greater Pain’ Than Burying Your Murdered Child

Published

11 years ago

June 16, 2015

Oakland Post

Mothers of murdered children (left to right): Constance Wilson, Vanessa Byrd and Andrea Clark.

By Zenobia Jeffries
Special to the NNPA

SPECIAL REPORT

DETROIT – Most women say there is no greater pain than to bear a child, I say there is no greater pain than to bury one. — Andrea Clark, founder, Mothers of Murdered Children

Three Detroit youths were shot in one incident last month. One died. Two were critically wounded. Their ages range from late teens to early 20s. According to the Detroit Police Department: “Three (B)lack males were sitting in a red Pontiac G6 when an unknown (B)lack male driving an unknown black vehicle pulled up, got out of the vehicle, walked to their vehicle and started firing shots.”

No further information was given. The suspect had not been apprehended at press time.

“No parent should have to bury their child. It’s not the natural order of things,” says Andrea Clark, founder of local organization Mother of Murdered Children.

Yet, increasingly thousands of mothers and fathers across the country have joined the growing number of parents who suffer from losing a child to gun and other physical violence. Many of the victims under 25 years of age have been killed by members of their own communities, others by law enforcement officers sworn to protect and serve them.

Detroit topped the list of most dangerous cities for the second year in a row with a violent crime rate of 2,072 per 100,000 and murder rate of 45 per 100,000. And although overall violent crime numbers are down in the city emerging from bankruptcy, homicides are up 14 percent. There was nearly a homicide a day in March — more than 20, according to the Detroit Police Commission. There have been 113 homicides in the city so far this year.

More than 80 percent of Detroit’s 700,000 residents are African American. It is joined by cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore, Md. that have predominately or large numbers of Black citizens, and high crime rates.

According to the Washington Post, U.S. police officers have shot and killed 385 people in the past five months, a rate of more than two people a day.

With the killing of Eric Garner by a New York police officer who choked Garner to death, followed by the shooting-death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, countless other killings of Black males and protests of injustice over their deaths have headlined media broadcasts and publications — as well as flooded social media sites, for nearly a year.

The mission of MOMC is to prevent violence through education and proactive intervention with children, young adults, families and community organizations. Frustrated with the lack of support and resources in their communities, MOMC joined similar organizations nationwide in the nation’s capital recently to lobby for policy to end gun violence (and homicides) in the U.S.

The other organizations included Mothers In Charge Inc., WAMD —Women Across America Making a Difference; PEACE — Parents Encouraging Accountability and Closure for Everyone; and Mothers Against Gun Violence), along with residents from their communities will gather at the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool for The Standing for Peace and Justice Rally calling on lawmakers to declare gun violence/homicide … a public health crisis.

Homicide is the leading cause of death among young African American males between 14 and 25 years of age. Such information is rarely included in the national debate about the epidemic of gun violence in America, says Clark.

Gun violence has claimed the lives of more than 30,000 men, women and children in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Killers, the CDC reports, used guns to murder 11,000 people in 2010 in the U.S., the latest year for which statistics are available. Twenty thousand others used guns to commit suicides that year and 73,000 were rushed to hospital emergency rooms for gunshot wounds

Clark’s son, Darnell, was killed in April 2011. He was taking pictures for a friend’s birthday at a nightclub in downtown Detroit when a fight broke out. Clark says the security for the nightclub had everyone exit the building. While attempting to drive away in his vehicle, shots rang out and Darnell was struck. Clark’s grief led her to create the organization Mothers of Murdered Children, only months later.

“I was just reaching for anything, a lifeline, anything,” she says, explaining the challenges she endured in getting information from the DPD regarding her son’s case. With questions looming, she spoke to a friend about the idea of a group to help mothers who experience her same suffering. MOMC was a vision from God she says.

“Once I started talking to all these different mothers, I just put my (pain) on the back burner. I think I was living through their pain and trying to fix them. And forgot…,” her voice broke, and her eyes watered.

Although Andrea has told the story of her son’s death on multiple occasions she began to cry as she reminisced about the good times, and the irony.

Darnell was an aspiring photographer, and he was a dad — a great dad. “My son didn’t even like going to clubs,” she said.

Mary Groat, of Wyandotte, is one of the original members of MOMC. Her son Scott was killed December 2011while leaving a party where he’d just sung backup in a band. No one’s been charged in his death.

A musician and tattoo artist who was planning to open his own shop, Scott was also a youth speaker for Beacon Baptist Church.

“He was a goof ball, says Mary. “I can hear him say, “Ma, you better get in that church.”

Andrea and Mary share similar fates with Rose Ford whose son, Darrlye Miller, was killed for his Cartier glasses, also at a nightclub in downtown Detroit; Constance Williams whose son Justin was randomly shot and killed on the 4th of July at a park; Brenda Hill whose son Brandan Rogers was killed along with his friend Melynda Goodwin while walking her to her car; and Gail Dunson whose son Brian was killed in his driveway.

“Senseless gun violence,” is how Williams describes the cause of her son’s death.

It was July 2013. A fight broke out at a neighborhood fireworks display on the west side of the city. Justin, 24, had taken the day off from work to take his younger sister, who was 18, to see the fireworks held annually in Outer Drive/Schafer area.

“What I’ve heard is that earlier in the evening a fight broke out, my son wasn’t involved,” Williams said.

She described her son as sheltered.

“He grew up in Catholic school (although he graduated from a Detroit Public School) because I was afraid of gangs,” she pauses. “To know Justin is to love him.”

Her son’s death came as a shock to anyone who knew him, Williams says.

“He was the type of person who, if trouble was breaking out he was going the other way. He wasn’t about the business of trouble he was about going to school, going to work, making money the legal way,” she said.

And helping others. Though it may not have been is ideal job, says his mother, Justin was a mental health assistant at the Samaritan Center.

“Helping people was Justin’s nature,” she said.

Justin’s case is still open, and Constance Williams like many other mothers has found herself without closure.

“The police did the investigation….One person came into the funeral home and came up to me and asked, ‘Are you his mother? … I saw everything” (they) wanted to go into detail, but I wasn’t the strong person I am now, told (them) to give it to my best friend, who was next to me.

I provided that information to the detective. He said he visited, but because (the person) was drinking and smoking weed (they) couldn’t be a credible witness.”

Personalities clashed, says Williams, a city worker for almost 30 years.

“It’s been quite a task dealing with the police department. I try to be sympathetic but not to the point where they forget about my son’s case,” she said. “I know Justin’s case is not the only case…but (he) could have followed up. I’m a grieving mom, but I’m not expecting anybody to do anything special for me. The same level I’m expecting for my son, anybody should get. I know they have a lot, but I don’t want his file to get to the bottom of the file.”

Scott and Justin’s cases are among hundreds of the DPD’s cold case files extending back more than 30 years. The unit, which was disbanded in 2013, was recently reinstated, according to DPD Asst. Chief Steve Dolunt.

“We’ve lost more lives to homicides in Detroit than in the last 30 years of war,” Dolunt said in an interview. “Isn’t that sad?”

For more information visit http://www.mothersofmurderedchildren.org, www.mothersincharge.org or http://wanmad.org, or call 215.228.1718 or 877.304.6667 (toll free).

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of April 15 – 21, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 15 – 21, 2026

Published

7 days ago

April 19, 2026

Oakland Post

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#NNPA BlackPress

The hidden risks of poor water management in residential properties

Poor water management in residential properties can result in structural damage, health risks, and long-term financial strain. Water is the most important resource for any country, and having access to clean drinking water should be a right that needs to be preserved. Unfortunately, we are noticing a trend in the US right now where poor water […]

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2026

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Poor water management in residential properties can result in structural damage, health risks, and long-term financial strain.

Water is the most important resource for any country, and having access to clean drinking water should be a right that needs to be preserved. Unfortunately, we are noticing a trend in the US right now where poor water management in residential properties is becoming more common.

It’s not even just access to water that gets affected when residential water management isn’t made a priority. It can result in issues with major leaks and flooding events, which affect the health and safety of residents.

Gradual Structural Damage

The worst thing about flooding or water leaks is the gradual structural damage that real estate investors have to deal with. Water can seep into materials like:

Wood
Drywall
Concrete

It can do so over time, drop by drop, and eventually cause significant damage to these structures.

A slow leak behind a wall or under a floor may go unnoticed for months, gradually compromising the integrity of the structure. Over time, this can lead to:

Warped floors
Cracked foundations
Weakened support beams

If you aren’t interested in spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair your residential properties, then it’s important to focus on water management in your annual plan.

Mold and Indoor Air Quality Issues

Excess moisture creates the perfect growing environment for mold. Within 24 to 48 hours, mold can start developing in damp conditions, and it often does so in hidden places like:

Behind walls
Under carpets
Poorly ventilated areas

Mold is a health hazard, especially for the very young and very old, and those who have a compromised immune system. Indoor air quality starts degrading very fast when mold growth happens, which can result in allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.

Addressing mold problems can be both complicated and expensive, often requiring professional remediation to fully eliminate the issue.

Increased Utility Costs

If you notice that your utility bills have gone up in recent weeks or months, without any corresponding difference in tenants or temperature, it could be due to a water leak. Malfunctioning fixtures can also cause an increase in utility costs.

Even small, continuous leaks can add up to substantial water loss, making regular inspections and maintenance essential. That’s why paying attention to water management is so crucial for any real estate investor.

Foundation and Drainage Problems

Proper drainage is crucial to protecting a home’s foundation. Water needs to be directed away from the property, and if not done so, then it can accumulate around the base of a structure. This can lead to soil erosion, foundation cracks, and even basement flooding.

Clogged gutters, improper grading, and inadequate drainage systems are common contributors to these issues. All of these have to be addressed to prevent long-term damage to your foundation and prevent expensive repair bills that eat away at your budget.

Professional eavestrough installers are necessary to ensure rainwater stays away from your foundation and moves away from the property properly.

Pest Infestations

No homeowner or investor wants pests in their residential properties. It’s not good for the health of the residents, nor is it good for the reputation of the properties in attracting future tenants.

Moist environments often attract pests such as:

Termites
Rodents
Insects

Standing water or damp areas provide ideal conditions for these unwanted guests to thrive.

Once pests are established in your property, they will start causing further damage by eating away at certain structures. To get rid of them requires expensive pest control services and takes time.

Insurance and Financial Implications

Even though insurance does cover certain types of water damage, it doesn’t cover all forms of water damage, and thus, you might end up paying out of pocket in certain cases.

Damage resulting from neglect or lack of maintenance is often excluded from coverage. That’s why it’s so important to apply water management strategies to all of your residential properties.

If you wish to sell your property later, then it’s important to be very cognizant of water damage, as buyers will conduct inspections that could alert them to such water damage and prevent your home from selling in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Preventive Measures for Water Management?

There are many home safety tips you can follow to ensure your home stays safe from water damage.

Regularly inspecting plumbing systems, cleaning gutters, and ensuring proper drainage can help identify problems early. Installing moisture detectors, maintaining appliances, and addressing leaks promptly are also effective strategies.

You can also hire a water damage specialist and have them take a look at your home to ensure nothing untoward is going on, especially if you notice a major change in your utility bills.

How Does Water Damage Interior Spaces?

Water damage can occur without the home dwellers noticing it. In some cases, the water damage to interior spaces is very apparent, as when the ceilings start sagging or the walls and ceilings develop water stains.

You might also notice the floors rotting or warping.

In addition to structural concerns, water damage can ruin personal belongings such as:

Furniture
Electronics
Important documents

The emotional and financial cost of replacing these items can be significant.

Nothing good comes out of water damage, but it’s highly preventable if you only take the steps mentioned above. Do not become lazy or complacent in this situation. It could be the difference between saving hundreds of dollars in water damage bills and not.

Protect Yourself From the Risks of Water Damage

Not everyone places such a priority on water management, and that’s a shame. It’s truly when you are dealing with water damage that you regret this decision.

Residential water management can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in bills in the future. It’s worth the time and resources you place upon it.

By staying vigilant and adopting proactive maintenance habits, homeowners can protect their properties and protect their investment from degrading into a money-sucking pile of stones.

Please check out related articles on our website for more interesting articles on a wide variety of subjects.

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#NNPA BlackPress

Black Micro-Schools Deserve Recognition: NABML Creates National Standards and Resources

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE: Black families are the fastest-growing demographic in alternative education. Discover how the National Association of Black Micro School Leaders is providing educators with resources, training, and certification to launch thriving microschools.

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2026

Oakland Post

by Dawn Montgomery
BlackPressUSA Contributor

Public school advocates and politicians typically spearhead the attack on microschools, focusing on their perceived “lack of oversight and public accountability.” Yet Black families are the fastest-growing demographic in alternative education. This shift is driven by the recognition that traditional public education cannot change quickly enough to serve its children’s needs. The National Association of Black Micro-School Leaders is an organization working to counter this narrative and fill a critical gap. Nicole Stewart, the founder, told The Carolinian that “Black families are the fastest-growing group in alternative education, but Black microschool founders have had no national home, no unified voice, no shared resources, and no collective power.”

Nicole Stewart, a former educator with nearly 20 years of experience in public education, retired to start her education consulting company and later opened her own school. That experience led her to discover microschools. Stewart advocates for a balance between joy and rigor in education, designing learning experiences that honor identity, strength, and purpose. She understands that microschools can be tailored to address the specific needs of the families and communities they serve.

The oversight criticism is legitimate. This concern is precisely why NABML is establishing the national benchmark for community-led education. NABML’s certification is that seal of approval, signaling to families, funders, and policymakers that a school is not merely functioning but is outstanding. Additionally, the organization emphasizes the importance of legal structures, fiscal stewardship frameworks, and community involvement as foundational to sustainability and accountability.

NABML realizes this vision via four main support systems:

Community Design Day: NABML facilitates a process in which the neighborhood tells us what its children deserve. You get to explore new learning approaches and define educational priorities for your community. A community task force is then formed to implement these ideas, and NABML supports you along the way. This creates a space where you can be a part of the process as a founding member of a microschool.

Founders Launch Lab: This professional development experience equips Black microschool founders and educational leaders with the training, operational, and strategic skills to launch and sustain thriving schools. Participants gain the business acumen and pedagogical frameworks necessary to navigate the transition from traditional educator roles to entrepreneurial school leaders.

Membership (The Vault): Members gain instant, 24/7 access to proprietary legal templates, student handbook builders, fiscal stewardship frameworks, and zoning blueprints designed specifically for the microschool model. They also join a curated community of mission-aligned founders through monthly “Brilliance Circles” and a private digital forum. Membership unlocks the NABML Fund, a curated capital pool designed specifically for the network, removing a major barrier to school launch and sustainability.

Certification: This is the seal of approval that tells families, funders, and policymakers that your school isn’t just operating; it is also excelling. NABML is currently developing the national benchmark for community-led education, making sure that certified schools meet rigorous standards for student outcomes, community engagement, and fiscal responsibility.

Whether you’re a parent seeking educational alternatives, an educator ready to launch a microschool, or a policymaker committed to expanding equitable education options, NABML invites you to be part of this transformation.

Ready to start or support a microschool? Visit https://nabml.org/ to learn more, access resources, or join the Founders Launch Lab.

Want to invest in Black educational futures? Make a donation at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/naobml/ to support founders in building schools that serve their communities.

Every microschool launched is a community transformed. Every founder supported is a generation of Black children empowered to thrive.